Heterosexual transmission and human sexuality in Brazil

RESUMO

At the end of 1994, there will be reported approximately 60000 AIDS cases in Brazil and Brazil Ministry of Health estimates between 600000 to one million cases of HIV-infected individuals mainly concentrated in Spo Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The GaffrTe and Guinle University Hospital, National AIDS Referral Center, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is a leading and pioneering AIDS Research Center in South America, which has accumulated more than five thousand HIV-positive individuals since 1983. Sexual transmission is the main category of transmission in Brazil. Heterosexual transmission has been expanded since 1985. 34.1 percent of these cases among women and 7.2 percent among men. Heterosexual contact constitute the only risk category of AIDS cases in which the number of female cases exceeds the number of male cases. Since early in the epidemic more men than women have been infected and therefore can infect their female partners. These differences can reflect more efficient male-to-female transmission compared with female-to-male as well diversity of sexual practices among heterosexual partners in latin american culture more widespread than generally observed. Group sex, heterosexual anorectal intercourse, bisexuality, lack of fidelity female low self-esteem, risk-averse facet, complete submission to male desire, multiple sexual partners, unprotected sexual contacts are the main components of the male-to-female ratio 6 to 1 in Brazil. Heterosexual tranmission of HIV may reflect latin american sexual practices and culture. It is of importance to acknowledge real human sexuality to design adequate educational program that could impact on the epidemic. Health care providers should be alert to the diverse behavior of both women and men which can be AIDS hot spots.